Ep 149: Playing by the Rules with Kelsie Domer
On this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with WPRA World Champion, Kelsie Domer, formerly known as Kelsie Chace. Kelsie has been a friend of the family for years, and I have had the opportunity to watch her grow into the person she is today — one who truly embodies the idea of being your best every day. Aside from Kelsie’s accolades in the roping arena, she is also an excellent trainer and instructor. Tune in as we discuss everything from horsemanship and roping to personal development and parenthood.
Phil: Going into the end of the 2022 season, how are you feeling about your position in the world standings?
Kelsie: I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at. I had a strong start to the season, and now that I am taking some time off waiting on our baby girl Oaklynn to arrive, I just have to sit and watch the standings. There will have to be some pretty big moves to bump me out, but there is a lot of talent in that top 20, so anything is possible.
Phil: Watching the world standings, what does it take to make a big move like that this late in the season?
Kelsie: I think the biggest challenge people run into this time of year is keeping their horses held together. When we’re on the road for a month or two at a time, we don’t get the practice pen runs in that we normally do to keep our fundamentals sharp. That’s why those practice runs in the off season are so important. It’s the time I use to establish those fundamentals so that when I show up to the rodeo, it’s just muscle memory at that point.
Phil: On a high level, what is your game plan when you show up at a rodeo?
Play by the rules — when you go to a rodeo, the rules are the same at each one. There’s a barrier. There’s a calf drawn for me. And, there’s three steps I have to take to complete my run. I have to score first. I have to ride my horse. And, I have to rope my calf around the neck. It’s really that simple. If I start worrying about how fast I have to be, I’m probably not going to score great. If I start getting ahead of myself, I’m not playing by the rules. That’s what I tell myself — play by the rules. It reminds me to take care of each step and keep it simple.
Phil: What do you tell yourself when you’re not winning as much as you’d like to?
Kelsie: You can only rope what you draw. I can’t change what my calf does, but I can control what I do with that calf. I can control whether or not I play by the rules. Sometimes, it doesn’t always go the way you want, but if I stick to my fundamentals, keep it simple, and do my job, they’ll pay me eventually.
Phil: What are you focused on when you back in the box?
Kelsie: My start. It sounds simple, but that’s really all I’m worried about when I’m sitting in the corner. I’m not worried about what my calf is going to do out in the arena. I’m not thinking about how fast I have to be. Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time, so if I think about anything else, I’m not focusing on the right thing. If I can nail my start and get my horse in the right position, then it’s just a reaction from there. At that point, I just have to trust my fundamentals.
Phil: What’s a typical practice session like for Kelsie Domer?
Kelsie: On my good horses, I’m always focused on keeping my horse’s confidence up. I try score a lot, and make sure that I am putting my horse in the right position in the field and then rewarding him. I want to let him get in position then help him want to stay there. You’ve seen me work through my horses over the years, Phil, so you know what I’m talking about, but I want to stay out of my horse’s way. I don’t want to hold them up when I get to the calf; I want to be able to drop my hand and let them do their thing.
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